Sheet distributing mechanism

ABSTRACT

A sheet distributing mechanism having a conveyer to convey the sheets and a gate to divert the sheets at selected locations. A rack structure having sheet receiving pockets is provided which rack is removably positionable with respect to the conveyer with the pockets thereof aligned with the gate positions, to thereby allow removable replacement of the rack structure as a whole when a program of distribution has been completed. The invention also provides a rack structure in which the angle of the pockets with respect to the conveyor can be changed.

Unite 11 i States Patent Schulze Oct. 21, 1975 SHEET DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM 3,273,882 9/1966 Pearson 271/173 29 B1 1 1 Inventor Erw-n Schulze, Novelty, Ohm 3 33301 $11323 3759 1 37; [73] Assignee: Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Stoner, Jr. [22] Ffled' June 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmRussell L. Root; Ray S. Pyle [21] Appl. No.: 372,111

Related US. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [63] Continuation of 174,751 1971 A sheet distributing mechanism having a conveyer to abandoned' convey the sheets and a gate to divert the sheets at selected locations. A rack structure having sheet receiv- U.S. g pockets is provided which rack is removably p [5 lIlt. Cl. tionable respect to the conveyer the p k Fleld of Search 64, thereof aligned the g p i i to thereby 270/58 allow removable replacement of the rack structure as a whole when a program of distribution has been com- [56] References C'ted pleted. The invention also provides a rack structure in UN D S S PATENTS which the angle of the pockets with respect to the 284,665 9/1883 Piper 271/213 conveyor can be Changed. 2,262,510 11/1941 Morrison et a1. 271/213 X 3,081,081 3/1963 Griffin 271/64 6 Claims, 7 Drawmg F lgul'es dbPr;

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US. Patnt Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,913,905

[HQ Y mm 3m 6 SHEET DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 174,751 filed Aug. 25, 1971, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to sheet distributing mechanisms and more particularly to mechanisms for distributing sheets in preselected sequences to sheet receiving pockets or bins.

Modern office practice often requires extensive distribution of various numbers and kinds of documents to a variety of different people or departments. Such distribution normally presupposes a sorting or distribution of the documents into proper groups before they are dispatched to their recipients. While this may be accomplished by hand, any large scale distribution is faster and better accomplished by utilizing a sheet distributing mechanism of some type. One conventional form of such mechanisms is the type wherein a conveyer of some sort moves the sheets along a path, and a gating arrangement diverts the sheets according to a pre-selected program into bins or pockets. These bins are formed as an integral part of the mechanism and when the distribution is finished the sheets are physically removed from each bin and then stored or sent to their respective destinations. This physical removal requires that the mechanisms be shut off while the documents are removed and also it requires the availability of storage and transportation facilities to retain and then deliver the sheets.

Additionally the position, i.e., the angle, of the bins with respect to the conveyer is fixed. However, it is well known that the optimum angle of the bins varies with different weight, sizes, and compositions of sheets. Thus a compromise which is not the optimum for any but a very few sheets has been necessary in the design of such a mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a sheet distributing mechanism is provided which includes a support structure which mounts conveyer means disposed to transport the sheets along a path of travel. A gating or diverting means is disposed to selectively divert the sheets from the conveyer at at least two different locations on the path of travel. A rack structure is provided which has a plurality of catch trays mounted and arranged to define at least two sheet receiving pockets. The support structure and the rack structure have cooperating means positioned to removably position the entire rack structure with respect to the support structure with the pockets positioned to receive the sheets diverted by the gating means. Thus the entire rack structure can be inserted to receive sheets and removed when filled and replaced with a fresh rack structure. Thus the rack structures can themselves serve both as receiving pockets and as storing and transporting mechanisms.

The invention also contemplates mounting means mounting a plurality of catch trays in a sheet distributing mechanism for movement to vary the angle thereof with respect to the path of travel defined by the conveyer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with certain portions shown somewhat diagrammatically, of a sheet distributing mechanism according to this invention;

FIG. 1A is a plan view of the main support structure;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane designated by the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane designated by the line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the catch trays and mounting links therefore;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rack structure which mounts the catch trays with portions omitted for clarity; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view somewhat diagrammatic showing another embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and for the present to FIGS. 1 and 2 a sheet distributing mechanism according to this invention is shown on a floor as support surface 9. The sheet distributing mechanism includes a main support structure designated generally as 10 which mounts thereon a conveyer l2 driven by a motor 13. The conveyer 12 includes a delivery section 14 which is disposed to receive and start the transportation of the sheets to be distributed and a distribution section 16 which moves the sheets on a vertical path of travel. The distribution section 16 of the conveyer includes gating means (not shown) adapted to divert the sheets from the conveyer at any one of a plurality of selected locations. The conveyer means and gating means may be of conventional design and do not per se constitute the subject matter of the present invention.

The main support structure 10 is configured to define an interior compartment or recess 18 which will removably receive a sheet receiving rack 20. The recess 18 includes a bottom opening 18a and an upstanding side opening 18b which intersects the bottom opening 18a adjacent to the floor 9.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5 the sheet receiving rack 20 includes a main support frame 22 on which are mounted a plurality of vertically spaced catch trays 24 which define sheet receiving pockets 25 there between. The support frame 22 has four wheels 26 mounted thereon which allow the sheet receiving rack 20 to be rolled along the floor as support surface 9 into and out of the interior compartment 18 through the side opening 18a formed by main support frame 10. While the rack 20 is disposed within the compartment 18 the wheels 26 extend through the bottom opening 18a into engagement with the support surface 9. The openings to the sheet receiving pockets 25 are aligned with the gating locations along the distribution section 16 of the conveyer 12. Thus the sheets diverted by the gate will be distributed to the aligned sheet receiving pocket 25 corresponding thereto.

In order to assure that the rack 20 is in close enough proximity and proper position a pair of guide bars 28 are provided on top of the main support structure 10 and coacting guide bars 30 are provided on the top of the frame 22 of the rack 20 which will accurately guide the rack into proper position with respect to the conveyer 12.

With this type of arrangement when a given rack has received the documents from a previous distribution program the operator need merely shut the machine off briefly; the rack can be rolled out, a new rack rolled into place and the apparatus started with its next program. The removed rack itself serves as a storage compartment for the documents and either the documents can be removed at leisure as time permits or the structure can serve as a delivery vehicle with the documents contained therein from the distribution program carried directly to the recipient. Its a very versatile sheet distributing mechanism which provides racks which themselves serve multiple purposes thus allowing efficient economic use of the sheet distributing mechanism.

The sheet receiving rack 20 described above, serves not only as a part of a sheet distributing mechanism, but then is detachable therefrom and becomes a transportation device by which the sheets can be transported to remote destinations. The wheels 26 are seen to be of a character which allow ready movement for this purpose, and such a rack, whether readily rollable as shown, or otherwise readily portable or movable from place to place by office personnel, may be conveniently termed perambulatory, or capable of perambulatory operation and this term when used hereinafter, in the specification or the subjoined claims, will be understood in the foregoing sense.

The present invention also provides a very simple convenient structure for changing the angle of the pockets with respect to the delivery section 16 of the conveyer 12 to obtain the optimum angle of the pockets for any different weight, size and composition sheets. For this purpose the frame 22 includes four vertical legs 32, 34, 36, 38. Each of the catch trays 24 have at their front ends a rod 40 which extends laterally in both directions oppositely therefrom and is pivotally mounted in the legs 32 and 34 thus allowing each of the trays 24 to be pivotally mounted at their front ends. The rear ends of the catch trays 24 are provided with a pair of links 42 secured on opposite sides thereof to a pair offlanges 44. The opposite ends of the links 42 are secured to a slide member 46 which is slidably mounted on the legs 36 and 38 by means of a pair of collars 48. Thus the vertical movement of the slide member 46 up and down on the legs 36 and 38 will raise or lower the rear ends of the catch trays 24 causing them to pivot as a unit about the rods 40 which will thus change the angle of the pockets 25 formed by the catch trays 24.

In order to easily adjust and retain the slide member 46 in any desired position, adjusting screw 50 is provided which passes through a cross piece 52 extending between the legs 36 and 38. An operating handle 54 is provided in one end of the screw 50 and the opposite end of the screw 50 is threadably engaged in the operating slide 46. Thus rotation of the screw 50 in one direction will lower the operating slide and the opposite direction will raise it to thereby adjust an maintain a selected angle of the sheet receiving pockets 25 as a unit. Hence an operator can select exactly the proper or desired angle for each different type of material being distributed by the mechanism.

Turning now to FIG. 6 another embodiment of the present invention is shown. This embodiment utilizes a conveyer which distributes the sheets from a horizontal path of travel rather than a vertical path as is the case in the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 through 5. In this embodiment a main support structure A is provided which mounts a conveyer 12A in a horizontal plane for distributing the sheets. Suitable gating means are provided which are not shown. The main support frame 10A defines an interior compartment 18A which is configured to receive a sheet receiving rack 20A. The perambulatory sheet receiving rack 20A includes a frame 22A which has a plurality of horizontally spaced catch trays 24A defining sheet receiving pockets 25A therebetween. The sheet receiving rack 20A is disposed to be removably received within the interior compartment 18A with the end walls of the sheet receiving rack 20A cooperating with the opposite end walls defining the compartment 18A to properly guide the rack into position. The function of this device is basically the same as the previously described embodiment. This can also incorporate a suitable structure for changing the angle of the pockets.

What is claimed is:

l. A sheet distributing apparatus comprising distributor means disposed on a support surface for sequentially delivering sheets to a longitudinally extending array of delivery gates, said distributor means including means defining a recess having a bottom opening through which said recess is exposed to said support surface and a side opening forming a continuation of said bottom opening and extending upwardly from said support surface, said longitudinally extending array of delivery gates being disposed in said distributor means adjacent to one side of said recess, a plurality of tray means for receiving sheets from said gates, frame means disposed in engagement with said support surface for supporting said tray means for movement between a first position in which said tray means are disposed entirely outside of said recess and a second position in which said tray means are disposed within said recess adjacent to said longitudinally extending array of delivery gates, said frame means including wheel means for supporting said frame means for movement along said support surface between said first and second positions, said wheel means being disposed in engagement with said support surface when said frame means is in said first position and extending through said bottom opening into engagement with said support surface when said frame means is in said second position, said frame means being movable through said side opening during rolling engagement of said wheel means with said support surface.

2. A sheet distributing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including guide means connected with said distributor means for guiding movement of said frame means through said side opening during rolling engagement of said wheel means with said support surface as said frame means moves between said first and second positions.

3. A sheet distributing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said tray means includes an upper surface for receiving sheets from an associated one of said delivery gates, each of said tray means being associated with one of said delivery gates and having a first end portion adjacent to the associated one of said delivery gates and a second end portion opposite from said first end portion, a plurality of mounting means each of which is connected with the first end portion and associated with one of said tray means for supporting the associated one of said tray means for pivotal movement about an associated one of a plurality of parallel axes disposed adjacent to the first end portions of said tray means, and actuator means connected with the second end portions of each of said tray means for effecting simultaneous pivoting movement of each of said tray means about the associated one of said axes while maintaining said upper surfaces of said tray means in a parallel relationship with each other to simultaneously adjust the angular orientation of the upper surfaces of each of said tray means relative to its associated axis.

4. A sheet distributing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said tray means includes an upper surface, said mechanism further including means operatively connected with each of said tray means for simultaneously adjusting and setting the angular orientation of the upper surfaces of said tray means relative to a vertical plane.

5. A sheet distributing mechanism comprising conveyer means for moving sheets along a path of travel, a plurality of gate means disposed in a longitudinally extending array adjacent to the path of travel for diverting sheets from the path of travel, a plurality of spaced apart shelves having parallel upper surfaces for receiving sheets from said gate means, each of said shelves being associated with one of said gate means and having a first end portion adjacent to the associated one of said gate means and a second end portion opposite from said first end portion, a plurality of mounting means each of which is connected with the first end portion and associated with one of said shelves for supporting the associated one of said shelves for pivotal movement about an associated one of a plurality of parallel axes disposed adjacent to the first end portions of said shelves, and actuator means connected with the second end portions of each of said shelves for effecting simultaneous pivoting movement of each of said shelves about the associated one of said axes while maintaining said upper surfaces of said shelves in a parallel relationship with each other to simultaneously adjust the angular orientation of the upper surfaces of each of said shelves relative to its associated axis and said path of travel, said actuator means including means for retaining each of said shelves in a selected angular orientation upon movement of said shelves to the selected orientation.

6. A sheet distributing means as set forth in claim 5 wherein said actuator means includes a longitudinally extending support member, a plurality of links each of which is associated with one of said shelves and has a first end portion pivotally connected with the associated one of said shelves and a second end portion pivotally connected with said support member, and means for effecting movement of said support member to thereby effect simultaneous movement of said links and shelves, said means for retaining each of said shelves in a selected angular orientation including means for holding said support member against movement. 

1. A sheet distributing appAratus comprising distributor means disposed on a support surface for sequentially delivering sheets to a longitudinally extending array of delivery gates, said distributor means including means defining a recess having a bottom opening through which said recess is exposed to said support surface and a side opening forming a continuation of said bottom opening and extending upwardly from said support surface, said longitudinally extending array of delivery gates being disposed in said distributor means adjacent to one side of said recess, a plurality of tray means for receiving sheets from said gates, frame means disposed in engagement with said support surface for supporting said tray means for movement between a first position in which said tray means are disposed entirely outside of said recess and a second position in which said tray means are disposed within said recess adjacent to said longitudinally extending array of delivery gates, said frame means including wheel means for supporting said frame means for movement along said support surface between said first and second positions, said wheel means being disposed in engagement with said support surface when said frame means is in said first position and extending through said bottom opening into engagement with said support surface when said frame means is in said second position, said frame means being movable through said side opening during rolling engagement of said wheel means with said support surface.
 2. A sheet distributing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including guide means connected with said distributor means for guiding movement of said frame means through said side opening during rolling engagement of said wheel means with said support surface as said frame means moves between said first and second positions.
 3. A sheet distributing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said tray means includes an upper surface for receiving sheets from an associated one of said delivery gates, each of said tray means being associated with one of said delivery gates and having a first end portion adjacent to the associated one of said delivery gates and a second end portion opposite from said first end portion, a plurality of mounting means each of which is connected with the first end portion and associated with one of said tray means for supporting the associated one of said tray means for pivotal movement about an associated one of a plurality of parallel axes disposed adjacent to the first end portions of said tray means, and actuator means connected with the second end portions of each of said tray means for effecting simultaneous pivoting movement of each of said tray means about the associated one of said axes while maintaining said upper surfaces of said tray means in a parallel relationship with each other to simultaneously adjust the angular orientation of the upper surfaces of each of said tray means relative to its associated axis.
 4. A sheet distributing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said tray means includes an upper surface, said mechanism further including means operatively connected with each of said tray means for simultaneously adjusting and setting the angular orientation of the upper surfaces of said tray means relative to a vertical plane.
 5. A sheet distributing mechanism comprising conveyer means for moving sheets along a path of travel, a plurality of gate means disposed in a longitudinally extending array adjacent to the path of travel for diverting sheets from the path of travel, a plurality of spaced apart shelves having parallel upper surfaces for receiving sheets from said gate means, each of said shelves being associated with one of said gate means and having a first end portion adjacent to the associated one of said gate means and a second end portion opposite from said first end portion, a plurality of mounting means each of which is connected with the first end portion and associated with one of said shelves for supporting the associated onE of said shelves for pivotal movement about an associated one of a plurality of parallel axes disposed adjacent to the first end portions of said shelves, and actuator means connected with the second end portions of each of said shelves for effecting simultaneous pivoting movement of each of said shelves about the associated one of said axes while maintaining said upper surfaces of said shelves in a parallel relationship with each other to simultaneously adjust the angular orientation of the upper surfaces of each of said shelves relative to its associated axis and said path of travel, said actuator means including means for retaining each of said shelves in a selected angular orientation upon movement of said shelves to the selected orientation.
 6. A sheet distributing means as set forth in claim 5 wherein said actuator means includes a longitudinally extending support member, a plurality of links each of which is associated with one of said shelves and has a first end portion pivotally connected with the associated one of said shelves and a second end portion pivotally connected with said support member, and means for effecting movement of said support member to thereby effect simultaneous movement of said links and shelves, said means for retaining each of said shelves in a selected angular orientation including means for holding said support member against movement. 